Autumn 2019Sightline Journal of Theatre Technology and DesignNevill Holt – a new opera houseReports from OISTAT 2019The Theatre Industry and the Circular EconomyGlyndebourne Production HubModern Theatres – New Technology and PerformanceCOLLECTIVE STRENGTHIndustry Supporters’ GroupISG member 2019SILVERISG member 2019BRONZEISG member 2019GOLDISG member 2019PLATINUMNational Theatre 020 7452 3333 | www.nationaltheatre.org.uk | Nimax Theatres Ltd 020 7395 0780 | www.nimaxtheatres.com | general@nimaxtheatres.comSociety of London Theatre 020 7557 6700 | www.solt.co.uk | enquiries@soltukt.co.uk Steeldeck Industries Ltd 020 8692 9721 | www.steeldeckUK.com | sales@steeldeck.co.ukTheatreplan 020 7841 0440 | www.theatreplan.com | info@theatreplan.comTheatre Projects Consultants Ltd 020 7482 4224 | www.theatreprojects.com| uk@theatreprojects.comTheatres Trust 020 7836 8591 | www.theatrestrust.org.uk | info@theatrestrust.org.uk Torpedo Factory Group 01706 849 469 | www.tfg.com | hello@tfg.comTrail Systems +358 (0) 40 517 43 74 | www.trail.fi| contact@trail.fiUK Theatre 020 7557 6700 | www.uktheatre.org | ukt@soltukt.co.ukUnusual Rigging Ltd 01604 830 083 | www.unusual.co.uk | info@unusual.co.ukWhite Light Ltd 020 8254 4800 | www.whitelight.ltd.uk | info@whitelight.ltd.ukA.C. 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Ltd 01525 370 292 | www.mypowerdrive.com | info@mypowerdrive.comTotal Solutions Group 0121 772 5234 | www.trussing.com | info@trussing.com Trafalgar Entertainment Group 020 7321 5400 | www.trafalgarentertainment.com | trafalgarmanagement@trafalgarentertainment.comTriple E Ltd 01959 570 333 | www.3-eee.com | info@3-eee.comVari-Lite Strand +31 (0) 543 542 531 | www.vari-lite.com / www.strandlighting.com| entertainment.europe@signify.com Voluntary Arts 02920 395 395 | www.voluntaryarts.org | info@voluntaryarts.org Allies and MorrisonSILVER ISG MEMBERSISG member 2019SILVERISG member 2019BRONZEISG member 2019GOLDISG member 2019ORIGINAL10K Used Gear Limited 020 8308 9566 | www.10Kused.com | info@10Kused.com 1stintheatre Ltd 0333 335 0374 | www.1stintheatre.co.uk | info@1stintheatre.co.uk AECOM 020 7061 7000 | www.aecom.com | John.burgess@aecom.comAedas Arts Team 020 7480 1500 | www.aedas.com/aedasartsteam | artsteam@aedas.comAnderson Bradshaw Ltd 07544 095620 | michael@abltd.orgAudio Light Systems Ltd 0800 043 4600 | www.audiolightsystems.com | enquiry@audiolightsystems.comAvison Young 020 7911 2265 | www.avisonyoung.co.uk | mike.cook@avisonyoung.comAVW Controls Ltd 01379 898 340 | www.avw.co.uk | info@avw.co.ukBlack Cat Music & Acoustics 01892 619 719 | www.blackcatmusic.co.uk | sales@blackcatmusic.co.ukBlue Chilli Flying 01234 780 180 | www.bluechilliflying.com | info@bluechilliflying.comBuroHappold Engineering 01225 320 600 | www.burohappold.com | andrew.wylie@BuroHappold.comBurrell Foley Fischer LLP 020 7620 6114 | www.bff-architects.com | mail@bff-architects.co.ukCamstage 01727 830 151| www.camstage.com | info@camstage.com Carr & Angier 01225 446 664 | www.carrandangier.co.uk | info@carrandangier.co.ukCentral Theatre Supplies 0121 778 6400 | www.centraltheatresupplies.co.uk | enquiries@centraltheatresupplies.co.ukClark Door Ltd 01228 522 321 | www.clarkdoor.com | sales@clarkdoor.comConisbee 020 7700 6666 | www.conisbee.co.uk | design@conisbee.co.uk CWS Lifting and Safety Ltd0800 334 5997 | www.cwslifting.co.uk | sales@cwslifting.co.ukd&b audiotechnik GB Ltd 01453 835 884 | www.dbaudio.com | info.gb@dbaudio.comDrama By Design 01344 649 400 | www.dramabydesign.com | info@dramabydesign.comEnlightened 01179 727 123 | www.enlx.co.uk | info@enlx.co.ukEquals 020 7580 3360 | www.equalsconsulting.com | mail@equalsconsulting.comeStage 020 7112 8903 | www.eStage.net | studio@eStage.netFinch Consulting (Health & Safety) 07527 002 689 | www.finch-consulting.com | Melvin.Sandell@finch-consulting.comFlashlight Ltd 01706 625 866 | www.flash-light.co.uk | sales@flash-light.co.ukFoster Wilson Architects 020 7354 1315 | www.fosterwilsonarchitects.com | mail@fosterwilsonarchitects.comGDS (Global Design Solutions) 0117 325 0063| www.gds.uk.com | sales@gds.uk.comGillieron Scott Acoustic Design 020 8671 2223 | www.gsacoustics.org | info@gsacoustics.orgGoboPlus 020 3603 1335 | www.goboplus.com | enquiries@goboplus.comGort Services 01706 849 295 | www.gorts.co.uk | sales@gorts.co.ukHarkness Screens (UK) Ltd 01438 725 200 | www.harkness-screens.com | sales@harkness-screens.comHarper Tackley Consultants 07976 279 701 | www.harpertackley.com | simon@harpertackley.comHaworth Tompkins 020 7250 3225 | www.haworthtompkins.com | info@haworthtompkins.comHayles and Howe Ltd 0117 972 7200 | www.haylesandhowe.co.uk | info@haylesandhowe.co.ukHOAC Schweisstechnik GmbH +49 (0) 2841 90828-0 | www.hoac.com | info@hoac.comHoward Eaton Lighting Ltd 01273 400 670 | www.helluk.com | info@helluk.comHSL Group Holdings Ltd 01254 698 808 | www.hslgroup.com | simon.stuart@hslgroup.comHussey Seatway 01985 847 200 | www.husseyseatway.com | sales@husseyseatway.comIDIBRI 024 7667 3645 | www.idibri.com | contact@idibri.comIlluminate Design 01206 709 694 | www.illuminatedesign.co.uk | info@illuminatedesign.co.ukJohn Young Creative Industries 01252 711816 | www.jyci.co.uk | johnyoung@jyci.co.ukJust Rigging & Inspections Ltd 01244 678 324 | www.just-rigging.com | enquiries@just-rigging.comJust Rigging & Inspections Scotland Ltd 0141 646 0499 | www.justrigging.co.uk | info@justrigging.co.ukLee Filters 01264 366 245 I www.leefilters.com | sales@leefilters.comLevitt Bernstein 020 7275 7676 I www.levittbernstein.co.uk | hello@levittbernstein.co.ukLocker and Riley Fibrous Plastering Ltd 01245 322 022 | www.lockerandriley.com | enquiries@lockerandriley.comMayr Transmissions Ltd 01535 663 900 | www.mayr.com | sales@mayr.co.ukMDG FOG UK 01604 741 000 | www.mdgfoguk.com contact@mdgfoguk.comMultistage International Ltd 01284 750 474 | www.multistage.co.uk | info@multistage.co.ukMushroom Lighting 01604 790 900 | www.mushroomlighting.com | info@mushroomlighting.comNorthern Light 0131 622 9100 | www.northernlight.co.uk | info@northernlight.co.ukOtago Blue Ltd 01837 54059 | www.otagoblue.co.uk | sales@otagoblue.co.ukPlann Ltd 020 3846 9230 | www.plann.co | Julia@plann.coPress Red Rentals Ltd 01952 587 049 | www.pressred.biz | rentals@pressred.bizProduction Safety Ltd 07973 159 402 | www.productionsafety.co.uk | mail@productionsafety.co.ukRB Health and Safety Solutions Ltd 0845 257 1489 | www.rbhealthandsafety.co.uk | admin@rbhealthandsafety.co.ukRigging Services Direct Ltd 0845 555 6575 | www.riggingservices.co.uk | info@riggingservices.co.ukRigging Team Ltd 020 3126 4040 | www.riggingteam.com | office@riggingteam.comRobolights Ltd 01392 823 040 | www.robolights.com | sales@robolights.comRoland International 01792 702 701 | www.proav.roland.com | Bharat.Kerai@roland.comRope Assemblies Ltd 01777 700714 | www.ropeassemblies.co.uk | sales@ropeassemblies.co.ukSansei Technologies Inc. 0081 6 6393 5621 | www.sansei-technologies.com/eng | www.sansei-technologies.com/eng/contactShowTex NV 0032 3 236 84 40 | www.showtex.com | hello@showtex.comSlingco Ltd 01706 855 558 | www.thecablenet.net | sales@thecablenet.netSolutions on Stage 0117 244 8625 | www.solutionsonstage.co.uk | enquries@solutiononstage.co.ukSound Space Vision 020 8877 5860 | www.soundspacevision.com | info@soundspacevision.com Stage Electrics 03330 142 100 | www.stage-electrics.co.uk | sales@stage-electrics.co.uk Theatretech 01935 882 828 | www.theatretech.net | info@theatretech.netTheatron 00358 2 7636 4616 | www.theatron.eu | samu.backman@mansoft.fiBRONZE ISG MEMBERSCOLLECTIVE STRENGTHIndustry Supporters’ Group Association of British Theatre Technicians55 Farringdon Road, London EC1M 3JBTel: 020 7242 9200 Fax: 020 7242 9303Email: office@abtt.org.uk Website: www.abtt.org.ukOFFICERS & COUNCILRichard Bunn ChairmanLouise Birchall David Edelstein David Evans Matthew Freeman Co-optedDarren Joyce Peter Maccoy Tom Mannings James McKeogh Co-optedPaul Moore Co-optedAnette OllerearnshawTamykha Patterson Co-optedCaroline RouseNikki ScottJohn YoungEX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF COUNCILMichael AndersonChairman, Safety CommitteeSebastian Barnes Chairman, Training & Education Comm.Tim FosterChairman, Theatre Design Comm.Roger FoxChairman, Historical Research Comm.Jean Shevelan Chairman, NorthNet – ABTTMark White Chairman, Communications and Publications CommitteeRoger Fox Company SecretaryMatthew Jones Honorary SecretaryLoretta Tomasi Honorary TreasurerSTAFFRobin Townley Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Elysia Moore Association Co-ordinatorStuart Roberts Financial ControllerCONSULTANTGeoffrey Joyce ABTT Training Co-ordinatorRegistered Charity 282069SightlineCONTENTSvol. 42 no. 3Editorial 7Nevill Holt – a new Opera House 8Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design & Space 2019 12Glyndebourne Production Hub 17Book Review – Play On – Contemporary Theatre Architecture in Britain 20Working Theatre or Museum? OISTAT Architecture Tour 2019 21ABTT Theatre Awards 2019 28Theatre Under Occupation - Theatres in Palestine 31Modern Theatres – New Technology and Performance 34The Theatre Industry and the Circular Economy 39The Stephen Joseph Association 43Young Members News 44Batteries and Battery Safety 45NATEAC 45Technical Standards 47Members News 50Safety Matters 51Editor Rebecca MorlandPublisher John Offord Entertainment Technology Press Ltd The Studio, High Green, Great Shelford Cambridge, Cambs CB22 5EGTel: 01223 550805 Fax: 01223 550806Advertising enquiries should be sent to john@etnow.comSightline is available by annual subscription of £120 (four issues). Sightline is published in March, June, September and December. Cheques should be made payable to Entertainment Technology Press Ltd and sent to the Publisher as above. Alternatively, please go to www.etnow.com/sightline for an order form.Opinions expressed in Sightline are not necessarily those of the Publisher or the Association of British Theatre Technicians. All rights are reserved and reproduction of any part in whatever form is prohibited without the prior permission of the ABTT and/or the Publisher. Information is published in good faith but no responsibility can be attached to the Publisher or to the Association or to any of their members or employees for the accuracy or for any liability arising therefrom. ISSN: 0265-9808 Cover: Glyndebourne Production Hub. © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo by Graham Carlow LIGHTING | AV | RIGGING | STAGING | DRAPESTECHNICAL INSTALLATIONS & SERVICING FOR THEATRES. hawthorn.biz01664 821 111install@hawthorn.bizw: t: e: Sightline Autumn 2019 7 EditorialSeptember always feels like a bit of new start to me – a hangover from many years in rep., where it always marked the start of the autumn season after a summer of maintenance and youth theatre summer schools! And, of course, the return of colleagues from their holidays, or maybe Edinburgh, with stories of shows that they had seen (and possibly booked). There are no reports from Edinburgh in this edition of Sightline, but there are a number of reports from around the world. Firstly from OISTAT where John Faulkner reports on the incredibly busy Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space. As well as the main event, the OISTAT Architecture Commission organised a tour of theatres in Czechia and East Germany. A very knowledgeable group of 17 people from 7 different countries seem to have crammed an awful lot into 4 action packed days, and visited some fascinating theatres, as Peter Ruthven-Hall’s report and associated photos demonstrate. I was particularly interested in his report on the Český Krumlov Castle Theatre, as I visited that town in the early 1990’s, when tourism was its infancy in then Czechoslovakia. Sadly, the theatre and castle were closed, but it looked fascinating from the outside and the town (and its beer) were lovely! Another window on a different world comes from Jonathan Brown, who writes about the Al Harah Theatre in Palestine. It is a fascinating insight into the challenges of theatre-making there, the role that training can play, and the support that UK-based organisations (including ABTT) and individuals are giving in this respect.We visit two new buildings in this edition of Sightline, both of which are opera-related. Richard York reports back from Glyndebourne, and its new production hub – a building which manages to be both practical, and – I think – rather beautiful. Nevill Holt is a comparative newcomer on the country house opera scene, but its new building, nestling in a C17th stable yard has been short-listed for the Stirling Prize – the first pure performance building to be shortlisted since the Everyman – and we hear from the architects Witherford Watson Mann and theatre consultants Sound Space Vision. Architectural historian Dr Alistair Fair, whose work Modern Playhouses – an Architectural History of Britain’s New Theatres 1945-1985 was reviewed by Peter Longman in Sightline in Summer 2018, has now moved on to more contemporary theatres. His new book Play On – Contemporary Theatre Architecture in Britain is published in early September, and features case studies from ten theatres that have either been built or substantially renovated recently. Mark Price’s review has made me very keen to read this! For those of you attending PLASA copies will apparently be available on the ABTT stand.Sustainability is an increasingly important issue for theatres, as for the wider world. One of the issues that needs to be addressed is around economic growth and how to change the world economy to one where more is put in than is taken out. Tom Harper explains how this circular economy model could apply to the live performance industry in the first of two articles entitled The Theatre Industry and the Circular Economy.We have been publishing extracts from Modern Theatres, edited by David Staples for the last couple of years. This major work is due to be published in summer 2020, and in the run-up to this we will be featuring a few more pieces from the book, which not only features individual theatres from around the world, but also essays on various areas of theatre practice. In this edition, Raj Patel, provides us with some fascinating insights into new technology and performance.If you want to comment on anything in this issue please do get in touch – I would love to hear your views!Rebecca MorlandEditor sightline@abtt.org.uk 8 Sightline Autumn 2019 Nevill Holt The RIBA Stirling Prize is the highest accolade in UK architecture, and the shortlist always attracts attention. When the 2019 shortlist was announced in July, it included the 400-seat theatre at Nevill Holt, home of Nevill Holt Opera.Designed by Stirling Prize winning architects Witherford Watson Mann (WWM) and theatre designers and acousticians Sound Space Vision (SSV), built by Messenger BCR and supported by the David Ross Foundation, it was completed in 2018 and replaces a temporary theatre on the site. The Grade 1 listed Nevill Holt estate in Leicestershire has been a home for a short opera season for more than 10 years, with performances taking place in a temporary tent structure inside the 17th century stable block. Over the last six years Nevill Holt Opera supported by the David Ross Foundation (DRF) have built an opera company which includes local children and those from DRF academies in the performances.The ambitions for the new building included: to improve the audience/performer relationship whilst preserving the intimacy of the existing space; optimise the technical equipping of the stage and front of house; and, increase the capacity of both the auditorium and the orchestra pit. Most importantly, this is a theatre for festivals and to support young performers and voices – so the space needed to be intimate and have a great acoustic. It was also clear that the scheme would have constraints. As a prominent listed building A new opera house designed and built to the highest standardson the ridge of a rural landscape, it was expected that planning restrictions would not allow a flytower, and the historic stables structure could not be undermined by a vast understage structure. The project was completed in under three years, on a construction budget of £5.1 milllion, and has received much praise in its first year of operation, from audience members and opera critics alike, with its intimacy and superb acoustics being particularly praised – “An indisputable triumph … this can truly be called a home for music” Rupert Christiansen, The Telegraph.DesignIt was agreed that the stable yard would remain as the home for the auditorium and stage, with the surrounding stable accommodation continuing to be repurposed as backstage, wings, dressing rooms, offices and audience reception rooms. The dimensions of the stable yard (25m x 16m) could have lent itself to a rectangular auditorium, but a horseshoe arrangement was felt to be more intimate. It was also agreed that front-of-house accommodation would remain as temporary pavilions in the garden during the summer festival. This has many benefits, not the least ensuring that audiences come directly in from outside into the theatre, and therefore creating a very direct relationship with it.Many approaches to the balcony and stalls design were explored by the team, finally settling on gently curved rows for the stalls and a bigger more embracing sweep for the balcony geometry. Working closely with the team at Nevill Holt, the final layout achieves an overall capacity of 397 (an increase of 60), with sightlines to the stage edge which work from every seat, and the rake of the stalls is such that the audience entering the auditorium from the central entrance see the stage over the backs of the seats. SSV worked closely with the chosen seating manufacturer (Race) to develop a seat design that worked with the architecture and acoustics. Seating was carefully designed using varying seat widths and back angles in different locations to maximise the comfort and support for the audience. To avoid wasting any space on circulation, and to maximise accessibility, SSV recommended placing the audience entrance level and the stage at the same height as existing heights in the surrounding buildings. This enables instrument and set movement backstage, and also ensures that wheelchair users can access the stage, audience and AutoCAD for Theatre Users – 4th edition David RipleyPrice: £32.00ISBN: 9781904031901From ‘Setting Up’ to ‘Drawing in Three Dimensions’ via ‘Drawings Within Drawings’, this compact and fully illustrated guide to AutoCAD covers everything from the basics to full colour rendering and remote 3D plotting. Fourth, completely revised edition, March 2018. Available from www.etbooks.co.uk or AmazonAlso now available:Health and Safety Management in the Live Music and Events Industy by Chris HannamWest End in Watercolour: a portrait of London theatre by John HigginsNext >